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Welcome to the web site for our late spring Gulf of Alaska research cruise. The objectives of this cruise are to conduct an ichthyoplankton survey and fisheries oceanography process studies in the region between the Shumagin Islands and Shelikof Strait. We will assess the abundance of larval pollock, estimate their transport rates, and identify other factors influencing their growth and survival. We will also occupy stations on Line 8 to continue our 26-year time series of environmental and biological conditions in Shelikof Strait that are useful in an integrated ecosystem assessment. In addition to the FOCI standard sampling, stations have been selected from the main grid of the GOA IERP research project for additional sampling. At these stations we will deploy a neuston net to assess larval sable fish; one of the five target species for the GOA IERP. The GOA IERP is funded by Alaska’s North Pacific Research Board. EcoFOCI is providing expertise for both the lower trophic level and modeling modules of the GOA IERP.

The activities on this cruise also fit into a larger, multi-year project addressing the interrelationship of climate, oceanography, fisheries, ocean biology, ocean chemistry, and seabirds in a changing ecosystem. This spring expedition is funded through NOAA's FOCI program.

Operations primarily consist of plankton sampling, hydrographic measurements, and water sampling. We will conduct bongo tows and Neuston net tows. Hydrography includes digital profiles of temperature, salinity (calculated from temperature, conductivity, and pressure), pressure, chlorophyll and dissolved oxygen. We also take CTD water samples for phytoplankton, microzooplankton, nutrient and oxygen analysis. We are sampling on a pre-defined grid of stations that has been sampled annually for the past 25 years.